Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dektoshka Red’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dektoshka Red’, characterized by its large daisy-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray florets; strong, thick and upright flowering stems; uniform flowering habit; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEKTOSHKA RED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dektoshka Red’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dektoshka’, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of ‘Dektoshka’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands in September, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since October, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dektoshka Red’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dektoshka Red’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Large daisy-type inflorescences with dark red-colored ray         florets.     -   2. Strong, thick and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Uniform flowering habit.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance         for about 20 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the parent, ‘Dektoshka’ primarily in ray floret color as plants of ‘Dektoshka’ have red purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Timman Yellow’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of ‘Timman Yellow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were less vigorous than         plants of ‘Timman Yellow’.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about two days later         than plants of ‘Timman Yellow’.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘Timman Yellow’.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Timman Yellow’ differed         in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Dektoshka Red’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the upper (top of photograph) and lower surfaces (bottom of photograph) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Dektoshka Red’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given 1.5 weeks of long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels were about 7 kilolux. Plants were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dektoshka Red’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of     Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Dektoshka’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a spray-type; moderately vigorous             growth habit.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong.             Length: About 75 cm. Stem diameter: About 7 mm. Spray             diameter: About 20 cm to 25 cm. Internode length: About 2.5             cm to 3 cm. Texture: Finely pubescent; longitudinally             ridged. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 8 cm to 11 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm to 6 cm. Apex:             Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             slightly serrate; sinuses parallel to divergent. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, slightly rough; veins             prominent on lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate,             reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close             to 137C. developing leaves, lower surface: Lighter than             147B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             venation, close to 148B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B to 147C.             Petiole: Length: About 1 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rough. Color,             upper surface: Close to 147B. Color, lower surface: Close to             146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with obovate to             oval-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to axillary laterals             (peduncles); ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering response;             plants exposed to 1.5 weeks of long day/short night             conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short             day/long night conditions flower about 52 days later when             grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,             inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and             substance for about 20 days; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a spray type, about 20             inflorescences develop.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Depth             (height): About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About             6 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 145A to 145B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Flattened spherical. Height:             About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 9             mm to 13 mm. Shape: Obovate to oval. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Number per             inflorescence: About 30 to 35 arranged in about two to three             whorls. Aspect: About 30° from horizontal. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 60A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 160D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 53A and towards the base, close to 6B; with development             color becomes closer to 185B and towards the base, close to             8B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 160D with red             purple-colored overlay; with development color becomes             closer to 8D with red purple-colored overlay.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, erect and elongated.             Apex: Dentate. Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Number per inflorescence: About 350, massed at the             center of the receptacle. Color: When opening: Apex: Close             to 145A to 145B. Mid-section: Close to 12B. Base: Close to             145D. Fully opened: Apex: Close to 4A. Mid-section and base:             Close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 6 mm to 10 mm. Width: About             2 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to             truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Number per inflorescence: About 35             arranged in about four whorls. Color, upper surface: Close             to N137B. Color, lower surface: Close to N137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: Terminal inflorescence             bud removed to enhance spray development. Length, fourth             peduncle: About 10 cm. Length, seventh peduncle: About             14 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About             30° from the flowering stem axis. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:             Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About             4 mm. Style color: Greenish. Stigma color: Yellow.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under     commercial conditions. 

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dektoshka Red’ as illustrated and described. 